The announcement of the main stage lineup at the Houston Rodeo is an annual head scratcher for many across the Lone Star State and beyond who actually pay attention to the music native to Texas and Houston, and wonder why one of the biggest events in Texas all year chooses to import most of its talent from out of the state instead of showing pride and support in its Texas entertainers?

Sure, a few ringers from outside of Texas are understandable. This is an event for everyone, and needs to appeal to a wide swath of the public. But the lineup is so bereft of Texas talent, and filled with the most mainstream of mainstream selections, it all transpires each year with such nauseating predictability. Only the halftime performers selected for the Dallas Cowboys annual Thanksgiving game illustrate less imagination than the Houston Rodeo.

Over the last few years, Saving Country Music and others have taken the Houston Rodeo promoters to task for passing over local and Texas talent, and when they released their 2018 lineup on January 3rd, it almost warranted yet another rant about their lack of quality and local talent with names like Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, Rascal Flatts, and Keith Urban making the roster. But a few of the names showed at least a little effort to think outside the box. Booking Chris Stapleton helps give the 2018 Houston Rodeo a little substance at least. Texas country’s Cody Johnson performing in a big Saturday night slot is a real step in the right direction, especially after Johnson and Aaron Watson both held their own in marquee performances at the rodeo last year.

And the one name that virtually trumped all concerns about the 2018 lineup was Texas native and modern throwback roots icon Leon Bridges making the roster. Bridges is scheduled to play Friday, March 2nd on Black Heritage Day at the rodeo. This is exactly the type of artist the Houston Rodeo needs to be booking—someone with strong momentum behind them and a hip and relevant sound who will sell tickets, but someone who also isn’t just yet another mainstream radio star to perform for the mind-numbed masses.

Yet now there is a supposed outcry over the Leon Bridges booking, and specifically from people saying he’s not appropriate for Black Heritage Day.

It’s hard to tell just how much of the Leon Bridges backlash is real, or if it’s just derived from local Houston media looking for drama. The impetus for a News Channel 2 story on the matter was people leaving feedback on the NBC affiliate’s Facebook page complaining about the Leon Bridges pick. Using Facebook comments as a barometer of public sentiment—or even worse, as the basis for media stories—is one of the fundamental problems with news coverage today. Facebook comments sections are often a slag pit of embarrassing illustrations from the worst of humanity, and I’d offer up your average Facebook comments section of Saving Country Music’s own articles as substantial evidence. They’re like funnels of idiocracy.

Regardless, News Channel 2 in Houston then interviewed local DJ Keisha Nicole of 97.9 The Box about the issue, with her saying, “Leon Bridges, no slide to him, great artist. I had a lot of people say they rock with his album, but if you’re asking just anyone, most people don’t know him as a household name.”

Look, if you don’t know who Leon Bridges is, especially if you’re living in Texas, this is a greater indictment of your musical tastes than it is the Houston Rodeo for booking him. Leon Bridges has been the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Leon Bridges was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards. Leon Bridges has headlined festivals. Leon Bridges had a #1 hit on AAA radio with “Smooth Sailin'”. He had a Top 10 Most Viral Hit on Spotify with “Coming Home.” His biggest song on Spotify called “River” has been streamed over 56 million times.

If in fact Leon Bridges is not a household name, that’s not on Leon Bridges or the Houston Rodeo. That’s on those respective households. The outcry over the 2018 Houston Rodeo lineup can’t be that only 2 out of the 20 performers are from Texas, or that only two of the 20 performers are women. It has to center around the one thing the Houston Rodeo got right, which was booking Leon Bridges.

This issue hits at something much deeper than just who is playing one of the biggest civic events in Houston all year. It touches right at the heart of the concern that the entirety of American society is becoming one big monoculture dominated by hip-hop. The problem is not that Leon Bridges isn’t well-known enough. It’s that he’s an artist that cuts across the cultural and racial divide, and that he’s not a rapper. The people complaining on Facebook don’t care if it’s a Texas native playing Black Heritage Day, or have any desire to potentially discover something new. They want Nicki Minaj to take the Houston Rodeo stage in a body suit, and rub up against a pole for 90 minutes while she lip syncs, because that’s what they’re familiar with.

African Americans are responsible for so much of the great music that makes up the tapestry of the American culture, and arguably more than America’s Caucasians do. Jazz, blues, funk, soul, much of rock and roll, and hip-hop all have their roots in black culture. Even elements of country and bluegrass owe an element to black culture to an extent rarely given proper credit. But as Questlove of The Roots said best a few years ago, today black music is hip-hop, and hip-hop only. In fact, much of white culture is also centered around hip-hop. Listen to Taylor Swift’s new record. Listen to country radio, and at least half, if not most of the songs you will hear are dominated by electronic hip-hop beats, rapping or talking instead of singing, and urban annunciations from individuals who don’t talk in those tones in regular conversation. According to the end-of-year tallies, hip-hop was the most dominant genre of music in 2017, and also the greatest gainer.

This rebuke of Leon Bridges playing the Houston Rodeo is the perfect example of the monogenre taking root throughout society. Frankly, one of the reasons you’re not seeing many “household” names in hip-hop being considered for the Houston Rodeo’s Black Heritage Day is because they’re just not family friendly acts, and are inappropriate to put on the stage.

I get it, Leon Bridges is not the conventional black superstar on par with Luke Bryan or Jason Aldean in country music. But it shows an element of leadership by the Houston Rodeo to think outside the box, and find someone who can still pack the house and represent black heritage well, without being a big radio name. Just like Chris Stapleton does in country, Leon Bridges poses a threat to the power of radio on the masses, because he’s proven you don’t need radio to be successful. No wonder local DJ’s are speaking out about the pick.

What’s wrong with discovering something new? What’s wrong with representing music that is not hip-hop? And even worse, what will happen to future Houston Rodeo lineups if the few names they do choose that are not mainstream superstars stir controversy? The Houston Rodeo needs Leon Bridges, as does the American music landscape that has fallen prey to a hip-hop monogenre, eroding the diversity from where the American culture has always derived its strength.

I must admit I haven’t heard of him before this article (I guess his appeal hasn’t crossed the Atlantic yet) but you piqued my interest and I’m listening to Coming Home now. Halfway through and I can already hear that he is a worthy pick for any live music event. Anyone complaining should really sort their lives out.

Rufus Payne known as Tee Tot was said to have shown Hank how to play guitar, starting when Hank was eight years old. The criss cross of pollination of Scottish and Irish ballads that landed in the Appalachian region of the country with the music of the African Americans that came up from the South is responsible for much of this country’s musical history and heritage.

“African Americans are responsible for so much of the great music that makes up the tapestry of the American culture, and arguably more than America’s Caucasians do. Jazz, blues, funk, soul, much of rock and roll, and hip-hop all have their roots in black culture. Even elements of country and bluegrass owe an element to black culture to an extent rarely given proper credit.”

Yes, a black man taught Hank Williams how to play guitar. But Roy Acuff was making country music fifteen years prior, and was country music’s first superstar. I’m not saying African Americans aren’t owed some credit for helping form country music. I’m saying they are. To what extent is what is “arguable.” I would argue it’s more than what most people generally give it credit for. That said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying country music was mostly derived from white Southerners and Westerners, and white immigrants from the British Isles.

I’m not saying African Americans aren’t owed some credit for helping form country music. I’m saying they are. To what extent is what is “arguable.” I would argue it’s more than what most people generally give it credit for. That said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying country music was mostly derived from white Southerners and Westerners, and white immigrants from the British Isles.

I think that’s well put. With respect to old time country artists, for example, you can obviously hear the blues influence in Jimmie Rodgers music, but not so much in the Carter Family’s music. In bluegrass, you can hear the blues influence in Bill Monroe’s music, but no so much the Stanley Brothers.

Except that the banjo is an African derived instrument, and a lot of the rhythms and structure are derived from religious rhythms in African spirituals. It is exceedingly hard to differentiate white southern culture, from things taken from African culture.

I don’t think this is the sort of thing one could ever realistically break this sort of thing down by percentage or whatever, nor do I understand why that would matter ornwhat difference it would make.

Truth be told we’re all fortunate af to live in such a special time and place that allows us such a vast spectrum of music that’s readily available.

I for one think music is one of the best cases / examples showing the positive side of diversity and America’s melting pot aspect….not arguing with statement above whatsoever just providing another viewpoint

Mo, I’m curious to know why rodeo riders like hip hop in your opinion. Is it a rebel against the way they were raised thing? Is it that radio country sucks? Honestly curious, because I never would have guessed that. Country music and rodeo have been synonymous for a long time.

I think it’s just a sign of the times and how young people consume music (learning about stuff through Youtube, etc.). Even people who grow up in the country are influenced by a much wider array of music vs. the old days where you basically just had your parent’s album collection to start out with. Hip Hop really appeals to younger people across the board.

I’m not much of a rodeo guy but I was doing full time inspections on a construction site a couple years ago where the entire earthwork crew were bull riders and they were all excited about the bro country phase. So much so, their main foreman (male) used to wear the bedazzled and factory ripped blue jeans which lead the framing crew to nickname him ‘fancy pants’. I got a kick out of that.

From what I’ve heard of Leon Bridges, he’s a throwback soul artist. I’ve never been to one of his shows, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that his audience was predominantly white. From my experience (mainly live shows), it seems to me that black folks as a whole aren’t into throwback artists in big numbers. I can guess at some reasons why that might be the case.

Yep…I was into Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones, audience at their concerts was 98 percent white. That’s exactly right. Trigger is right that Rodeos are family friendly events , all ages and many hip hop acts are more adult oriented in subject matter and performance. So therein lies the truth of the matter.

Yeah, that’s pretty much been my experience seeing rootsier black artists (e.g., Robert Cray, Taj Mahal, Cephas and Wiggins, Carolina Chocolate Drops.) You might see a small smattering of black folks (as opposed to virtually none for more country influenced artists). And it’s not that “the white people” are supporting this music. It’s just that the very small percentage that do make up the vast majority of the fan base for that type of music.

It’s really fashionable to complain that Americana has a diversity problem right now, when in truth there is tons of diversity represented on stage. The problem is the lack of diversity in the crowd, which none of the Millennial opinionators want to address, because that puts the onus on the public, and not the powers that be in the industry who they want to brand as blind to the issue.

American roots music needs to find ways to reach out to African American communities and help them understand this is THEIR music, THEIR roots, and they need to support it or it will go away. Just like hipsters support traditional country music because it’s gone away in the mainstream, intellectual whites are helping to support black roots music because many black communities won’t. Booking Leon Bridges on Black Heritage Day is a way to show the black community that there is an entire world of other options for them out there that isn’t mainstream hip-hop. No offense to hip-hop, but black music culture goes so much farther. Yes, his crowds probably have a lot of white folks in them. But that presents an opportunity to bring people together through the shared experience of music.

you want to find out what’s wrong with the world? do a study on how hip hop culture has permiated thru every fascet of American culture. Hip Hop is the worst think to happen to the world since the Bubonic plague. I like Leon Bridges, I think it’s a good pick. He’s the second coming of Sam Cook.

Same difference. Give us something more concrete than “do a study on”, and we can begin to debate your ridiculous assertions about hip hop. Seems to me you have little idea about what you are writing here.

Leon Bridges is an amazing talent and performer. I saw him at ACL Fest two years ago and he was easily one of the best acts all weekend, along with Sturgill. If he’s big enough to play the Honda stage, he’s big enough to play the frigging rodeo. These people need to get a clue.

Leon Daniels probably doesn’t appeal to a lot of country listeners (because obviously he isn’t a country artist) but his style is one that I’d be totally down to see a revival in. He’s a great throwback artist that isn’t too pretentious about his old-school leanings.

Never heard of this fellow until today, maybe because I’m on a different continent to most of the people here. But I just googled him and I’m liking what I hear. So thanks for that, Trigger, it’s always a thrill to discover new music that sends a shiver down the spine.

This article and these comments are completely clueless. No one here knows a single thing about what they are talking about. The HSLR has long held what they call “Black Heritage Day” as an honor and tribute to the culture of Black “trail riders”. They ride in on wagon trains from all over the east and southeast part of the state. The music that they listen to on the rides and social events is primarily zydeco but also a lot of old school r&b. Despite what you folks want to tell yourselves, wearing the same skinny slacks as Sam and Marvin does not make you old school r&b. No one in the group that this day is supposed to honor gives two shits about an ex fashion model who hooked up with two white guys from a hipster electro band. They’d be far more enthusiastic about Pokey Bear or Tucka but I bet not a single one of you knows who they are. This sort of smug opinionizing about a culture you are totally ignorant of is the very definition of white privilege and it’s easy to see who the real cretins are.

One of my New Years resolutions is not to engage people who use SJW buzzwords. I don’t agree with your thoughts on Leon but I am very familiar with his music and performances. Insults don’t make you sound smarter, sorry.

Well why don’t you start with SJW then? This is not a debate about Leon Bridges mediocre music. It’s about and event, created for an audience, that has booked an act with little or no connection to that audience and the whitesplainin’ (just for you Gina) about why they should just accept it

Greg, I got to apologize for these folks. They do a lot of just accepting behavior forcing them into debt because of things they crave. They keep winding up in jail, get out and they’re back again for more. They have no feelings.

Gina, you watch yourself, girl. There’s a lot of “personality disordered” (ahem… excuse me, psychopaths squirming all over this site.) They have been determined unfit for the military, dishonorably discharged, habitual liars, smile in your face, but won’t lift a finger to help their mothers from drowning in shit. Just looking out for you.

You obviously have a problem with Leon’s music. The people who nominated him for a Grammy and countless critics would probably disagree with you. As for the event, he does fit the description. Again, your insults detract from your argument. But that’s your thing.

HE DOESN’T FIT THE EVENT! Black Heritage Day has nothing to do with the Grammy’s or anything else. It’s about honoring a community and a tradition and the whole controversy is not about Leon Bridges ability as a performer. It is that he has ZERO connection or appeal to that community and tradition other than being African American. At best that is cynical and at worst it’s flat out racist

An SJW pissed off about a black man being able to perform and deliver his music to a new audience. Imagine that. Y’all liberals should just admit that you want to bring segregation back, you’re already willingly doing it to yourselves.

Aw Gina…
A lot of people on this site are just jealous because they don’t have a chance in hell of doing all the hot shit Leon gets to do. As a woman how many rodeos do you get to perform in? Forget singing, that’s for the birds. Nothing like those huge bucking brahma. The way they get to spinning! You couldn’t hold on for the ride.

How insulting, Gina. Leon Bridges was drawn to that rodeo like a moth to a flame. He can’t help himself he needs to be redirected from being made into the rodeo clown. It’s like watching insects feed on each other here, centipedes feeding on roaches. Like the performers feeding on the audience. Can’t tell if he’s laughing at you for not being able to do what he does. Or if you all are laughing at him for doing it in front of him?

GREG! You hit the nail on the head!! Black music and culture is very diverse and is comprised of much more than hip hop. BUT nome of you could possibly and clearly dont know that. I just love it when clueless white ppl try and tell me what my culture is should be, and sure better be grateful and I better like it! It reeks of Privelege bathed in racism, worse than the stench of Old Lady church perfume.
I am one of those trailriders. I ride over 100 miles on horse back for 7 days every year. We dont play ONE rap song on the trail. At our nightly socials at the campsite, you will hear zydeco and country music and see us 2-stepping or zydecoing under the big tent. Leon does NOT cut across the cultural divide. He appeals to one group. He sings old school songs in a very basic and non-unique style. He sounds like other ppl eho have done rhis before and done it better with no definite style of his own. The Rodeo may need him, but Black Heritage Night does not.

#1: The impetus for the article by News Channel 2—and the whole reason this rebuttal article was written—were Facebook comments that said Leon Bridges was not appropriate to play the Houston Rodeo’s Black Heritage Day because the public didn’t know who he was. This was then echoed by a professional in the music business in Houston, DJ Keisha Nicole of 97.9 The Box, who said, and I quote: “Leon Bridges, no slide to him, great artist. I had a lot of people say they rock with his album, but if you’re asking just anyone, most people don’t know him as a household name.”

The issue was never that Leon Bridges’ music was inappropriate because of the approach of Black Heritage Day. At least that was not conveyed in any of the reporting, or by any of the concerned rodeo goers that I saw. Now, I’m not saying that’s not a legitimate concern. But you’re trying to argue that we’re ignorant on this subject, when you’re changing the concern mid conversation from Leon isn’t popular enough to his music isn’t appropriate to strengthen your argument.

You want to say Leon Bridges is not appropriate due to the history of the rodeo’s Black Heritage Day? Then by all means, make that argument. But you need to be making that same argument to News Channel 2, The local DJ’s, and dozens of Facebook commenters who seem to not have their concern. Their concern is Leon Bridges is a no name.

#2: You say, “Black music and culture is very diverse and is comprised of much more than hip hop. BUT nome of you could possibly and clearly dont know that.”

Frankly, that’s incredibly rude to assume that you cannot know about the diversity of black music simply because you’re not black yourself. In fact this article went out of its way to illustrate how diverse the history of black music is, and give it credit for fundamentally shaping American culture. Now perhaps myself and others may not have as vast a knowledge base about black music as certain black music fans do, but that doesn’t make us either ignorant on the subject, or unqualified to speak on it.

You’re right, I’m probably not in a position to say who is best to play the Houston Rodeo’s Black Heritage Day. But I am qualified enough to speak up when people accuse Leon Bridges on not being POPULAR enough to play. Because frankly, that assertion is just untrue.

Dude!!! Read YOUR comments, this article, and everybody else’s . I.e. all “they” want to see is Nicki Minaj on a pole? !?!? Who TF is “THEY””??? This whole article’s premise was on the wacka$$ assumption that black culture IS hip hop culture and used one article by ?uestLove to justify that premise. And everyone in the comments co-signed that BS. If you kmew more than that then yoi should have spoken on it. And left out all the BS ABT HOW black culture NEEDS Leon Davis.. Boo, we already had him in the likes of Sam Cook. WE, unlike you, dont want another copy cat. We listen to our and our parents records for nostalgia. So if its not comimg from the original artist or presented in a unique and innovative way, you can have it. Solange, Daniel Ceasar, SZA, etc.. I could go one…would have all been better choices and none of them are cookie cutter. And I have voiced my opinion to the HLSR and on Facebook.. so no thank you to your advice on who I should tell. Im telling you.

OK, Trigger, but I’m not sure about identifying such people as “cretins.” Not surprising that someone who feels like they have a legitimate gripe would find that characterization insulting. Ditto the “they want to see Nicky Minaj on a pole” comment. I personally think that’s presumptuous and dismissive.

I couldn’t give a Rat’s A about black culture, or any culture for that matter, other than my own of course, which isn’t racially based because I’m not a racist, but I do love good music. This cat makes some good music. Why don’t you like him?

Saying he doesn’t have his own style is dumb, because you don’t have to invent a style to be great. You can be great at a style that already exists.

If by, “push buttons”, you mean calling out racist behavior, then you’re correct. A “race war”? The only war I’m waging, is against racist, sensationalist nonsense. You shouldn’t have edited my comment. Weak move.

As far as me being “glad you included any of it”, you’re getting too big for your britches. I’d rather you not post anything, than to alter what I actually said.

To with actual purpose in targeting someone for being a reverse racist is racist behavior in itself Crackerersley. Is Cracker in you handle because you are righteously indignant with African Americans for giving you that name and you think you’re a funny guy? Or is it because you spy on people through their I.P. address and leave oh so funny white people messages online with your trashy intro to Linux code?

And he may be popular enough to play the Rodeo. But he is not well-known enough to play on Black Hetitage Day. That committee think just because an artist is black, he/she is a good fit. Last year, the booked Derulo!! A pop artist.. smh we would have preferred Hall & Oats over that BS.. or Darius Rucker…. i need to find out how to get on this committee..

I think you and I probably have a lot more in common than you think. We’re both frustrated at the Houston Rodeo lineup annually. We both feel like they’re not representing the best interests of the music, or the public. You think real country music fans want to have anything to do with Florida Georgia Line? It’s embarrassing. This is two sides to the same coin. You want to tell me that Leon Bridges is not appropriate for Black Heritage Day because his music doesn’t fit the spirit of the day, then I will defer to your judgement. But what I didn’t want to go unchecked was the idea that Leon Bridges in not popular enough to play the Houston Rodeo, and the precedent protesting his inclusion in the lineup does for the future prospects of artists who do not fit the mainstream mold. We need artists like Leon Bridges, all of us. Just as the Houston Rodeo needs artists of diversity, and artists actually from Texas in their lineup. Leon Bridges fits both of those needs, even if he doesn’t fit in Black Heritage Day perfectly.

We also need to engage with the process, like you said. And that’s is what we’re both doing by voicing our concerns. Even though we may not agree 100%, I think this is a healthy discussion.

How about the fact that the Houston Rodeo only booked one African-American performer? Complaining about is nuts. Leon Bridges is a great pick as a performer, but the fact that hip hop isn’t represented at all is ridiculous.

And saying it’s not family friendly is silly. Just because you don’t think something is appropriate for kids, doesn’t mean everyone else agrees with you. I think you’d find many parents who let kids listen to Kendrick Lamar, Chance, and others. Plus, it’s not like these performances are at 3 in the afternoon.

The “reason” there is a rating on movies is because some made their voices louder than others forcing their desires/beliefs on others through gov’t intervention. That alone makes us not a free society, but there are many, many examples of not free as well that are far more egregious and they are not moral or ethical either. Fact: Telling another what he may or may not see, do or experience is immoral, regardless of the intent or who’s doing the telling. The “rating” system is approved by someone that doesn’t know you and doesn’t care what you believe is appropriate, but, they (guide line makers) somehow believe they know better than you how to raise your kids. No one person or entity has the moral authority to tell another how he is to “Pursue” his right to Life. Parents who let their kids view, listen or do things society doesn’t approve of is a reflection on society’s views which may or may not harm another. If harm is done then there is a price to be paid, until then, not so much.

And make no mistake I don’t like most rap or hip hop, but, the market should decide if it’s “appropriate”. If the HLSR people flopped because they got it wrong next years entertainment schedule would look different, bet money on it, they do.

I have 2. Grown now, but, when they were kids I made the decision what they did, not an arbitrary rating system and I disallowed rap and hip hop to be played in my presence. That’s called parenting. It’s wasn’t someone else’s job and they didn’t have the right to tell me how or what. I most likely wouldn’t have paid them any attention anyway. But, kids are gonna do what they want, usually when they want and no ‘law’ or arbitrary guide line will ever change that.

Excellent post, Trigger dude. Aaron Vance is another extremely talented country artist, a very nice guy i have chatted with a few times, and whom happens to be African American and the guy has pretty much zero fans. he has remotely 2,000 followers on Instagram and makes extremely pure country music. Aside from that, Bluegrass was pretty much INVENTED by African people and Hank Williams learned guitar from an African American in his hometown. this IS a racial issue…but it’s a weird one. it’s a stigma that African American performers can make great music (as long as it is hip-hop, soul, etc.) but for some reason can not perform country music?! I guess these idiots have never heard Charley Pride, who recently released 2017’s “Music In My Heart”…a fantastic honky-tonk and pure country album. Bridges is a talented guy.

I could agree with almost everything you’re saying…except that the Rodeo to begin with is the worst place to enjoy music. Or more specifically NRG stadium. They sound sucks, the time is limited. If you really love music, it’s a wasted moment.

This really has nothing to do with this artist. I look forward to his performance however it’s the history of HLSR to bring folks in on Black Heritage Day that has no real identity with music embraced in our “communities”. Its happened on several occassions and sometimes they get it right. And get this straight, please, i do not mean rap or even hip hop. We are more than that. We are diverse musically as the next person but reality is if we have not heard this artist regularly on 102. 97.9. 90.9, our playlist at parties or in venues that AA frequent its really what we consider a blatant disregard. Same situation w Jason Derelo a couple if years ago. Its a family event and well attended by many because it is black heritage day. We attend other days too because we are Texans and black cowboys have been apart of the American landscape since there were cowboys. Trailrides and cowboys are part of our experience too especially in Texas. Please dont assume our cultural knowledge and experiences are that narrow. Now, I do recall some folks got upset about having Beyonce perform at the CWA. And this was BEYONCE. Get my drift. So HLSR please ask us who we would like to see perform on Black Heritage Day!

Gina, I have found in life that the mean spirited bully types crave attention. As a policy it’s best to ignore them. When you try to set them in their place, no matter how irefutable the logic you use, they never back down. Their pride and need to be right blinds them to any other possibility. So, when I see raging posts from lunatics, I laugh and pay no mind. If nobody responds or likes their comment, it drives em nuts. And you don’t have to lift a finger! Eventually they slither away to another cesspool to try to get attention.
Of course some folks aren’t trying to bully, they are just venting frustration which is of course a different matter entirely.
And if you don’t favor that method, challenge em to an old fashioned duel at high noon! You know, back when men were men and you had a life expectancy of 29 years old! Unfortunately the law frowns on duels! So that’s probably not the best solution.

I passed on picking up the Leon Bridges album when I first heard about and then sampled a little of it. I thought it was OK, but maybe I wasn’t in the mood for a throwback album or something. I’ve given it two listens. I do like it and am thinking of picking it up. I think the song Smooth Sailin’ has more juice than I thought it would, based on the title.

I love Leon Bridges. But if you go to one of his concerts, the audience mostly looks like me (white). I think this is the heart of the issue. He should be at rodeo, but perhaps have someone else for Black Heritage Day. It wouldn’t kill them to have more than one AA artist.

Texas Monthly is bringing page views including this one. I don’t have a dog in this hunt but thought they missed the fact you’ve an equal opportunity skewer of them with lip-syncing marginal talent and their fan base. Bottom line, (not a pun) more folks may visit and read more than just this.